Potters

The potters of the city of Fez are located outside the medina in a district dedicated to them. The visit is highly informative as it allows you to see all the stages of making pottery. Bowls, plates, and tagines are handmade from clay, then several firing methods finalize the work of these maalems (experts, professionals, craftsmen).

The blue pottery of Fez

You will be able to bring back magnificent souvenirs for your loved ones, with a choice of bowls, vases, egg cups, plates, tables… an endless selection to find the perfect gift. You will tend to choose small pieces so as not to be encumbered, but be careful of the ease with which sellers claim they can ship any type of vase or larger table abroad. The blue of Fez colors most of the pottery on display; it is the symbol of the city but also of the quality of the products made. You will normally find on the back of your tagine an Arabic inscription, and sometimes a Western one, with Fez and the date of manufacture.

The district near Riad Jamaï

In Morocco, the blue of Fez is especially known for all the pottery made there. Once again, Fez has managed to preserve this know-how by settling the potters in a district dedicated to them. Previously, in the medina, the potters produced large amounts of black smoke escaping from the kilns; for this reason, it was preferable to have these imposing and smoky structures settle far from homes, shopping streets, riads and guesthouses.

Buying pottery in the imperial city

To buy this pottery, you can do so in 2 ways: either during the visit to the potters, you can access the sales rooms with all the displays of tagines, bowls, plates and other tableware. The sales rooms offer a complete range of zellige tables, some engraved on the glazed layer, others with traditional Fez calligraphy. The second points of sale are located in the medina, through the alleyways, in some foundouks and in the talaa.